August 17, 2010 - ATLANTA - The FBI Atlanta Metro Major Offender Task Force and the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a fugitive wanted in Charlotte for kidnapping and aggravated assault. Members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Charlotte FBI Safe Streets Task Force used time-sensitive information to track Juan Pablo Fraga from Charlotte to New York, back south to Atlanta. They found him in a very specific area of North Atlanta on August 12th. Agents and deputies with the FBI AMMO immediately responded and arrested the fugitive without incident at an apartment complex at North Peachtree Road and Dunwoody Crossing. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police charged Fraga with kidnapping, assault by pointing a gun, aggravated assault on a female, and several other state charges for an incident on July 17th. If anyone has any further information that may assist law enforcement in this case, they are asked to call the Atlanta Division of the FBI at 404-679-9000, Charlotte CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600, or the Charlotte FBI at 704-377-9200.

August 2, 2010 - RICHMOND, VA - A federal judge has ruled against the federal government’s motion to dismiss the Virginia health care lawsuit, and suit will move forward. In denying the motion to dismiss, Judge Henry E. Hudson found that Virginia had alleged a legally recognized injury to its sovereignty, given the government’s assertion that the federal law invalidates a Virginia law, the Health Care Freedom Act. The Court recognized that the federal health care law and its associated penalty were literally unprecedented. Specifically, the Court wrote that “no reported case from any federal appellate court has extended the Commerce Clause or Tax Clause to include the regulation of a person’s decision not to purchase a product, notwithstanding its effect on interstate commerce.” A summary judgment hearing is scheduled for October 18th to decide if the federal health care law is unconstitutional.

Governor Bev Perdue

June 29, 2010 - RALEIGH - Governor Perdue was elected chair of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) yesterday at its Annual Meeting in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  As the chair of SREB’s 80-member Board, Gov. Perdue hopes to share the goals of her Career and College—Ready, Set, Go agenda, which includes preparing every student to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training.  Drawing on her experience as a former teacher and having earned a doctorate in education administration, Gov. Perdue also is working to transform North Carolina classrooms through increased technology and a statewide online school initiative. Gov. Perdue’s term as chair will begin July 1 and she will succeed West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III.

March 1, 2010 - ATLANTA - Kia will now build vehicles in the US. Last week, officials from Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. were joined by dignitaries from the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the State of Georgia, as well as local city and county officials to celebrate the official grand opening of Kia’s first-ever U.S. automobile manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. The plant is capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets. Representing a $1 billion investment by Kia Motors Corporation, the sprawling, new 2.2 million-square-foot automobile manufacturing plant is situated on more than 2,200 acres of land. KMMG consists of four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly. The site also includes a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track where every vehicle produced by KMMG will be thoroughly tested.

February 16, 2010 - RALEIGH - A North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper was involved in an accident on I-40 near Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh earlier today. Trooper Michael Davidson was sitting stationary on the left shoulder of I-40 .  A passenger vehicle was traveling east on I-40 when traffic began to slow.  The vehicle veered to the left to avoid striking another vehicle and subsequently struck the parked patrol car in the rear.  Both vehicles came to a final rest in the median, and both the drivers where transported to Wake Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.  Trooper Davidson has been treated and released.  No further information is available at this time pertaining to the status or identity of other driver.

Lemuel Cartwright

Alexis Cartwright

January 5, 2010 - RALEIGH - The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons is assisting New Kent, Virginia Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police in the search for Alexis Cartwright. She was last seen at the Cumberland Children’s Hospital in New Kent County, Virginia. Alexis’s medical condition is serious and she is in need of immediate medical attention. Alexis is an 11 year old, white female, approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 135 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes.  Alexis was last seen wearing a blue coat with an Aeropostale logo, yellow/green shirt and blue jeans. She may be in the company of her father, Lemuel Cartwright. Mr. Cartwright is a white male, age 55, height 6’ 7”.  He has brown eyes and brown hair. They may be traveling in a 1993 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup, blue in color with NC registration XYZ-8450.  Warrants with full extradition have been issued for Lemuel Cartwright. If you have any information regarding this reported abduction, call New Kent Sheriff’s Office immediately at 804-966-9500, the VIRGINIA State Police 800-822-4453. You may also dial 911 or *HP.

November 16, 2009 - RALEIGH - Consumers who had trouble canceling trial offers for Vonage’s Internet phone service now have a chance to get money back according to NC Attorney General, Roy Cooper. The refund opportunity is part of an agreement between Vonage and the attorneys general of 32 states to improve the company’s cancellation practices and customer service. Under the agreement, New Jersey-based Vonage has agreed to pay the states $3 million and to provide refunds to eligible North Carolina consumers who file complaints about Vonage NC Attorney General Consumer Protection Division within 120 days. The agreement addresses complaints that consumers had difficulty or were unable to cancel their Vonage service after a trial period.  The states’ investigation revealed that Vonage paid incentives to customer service representatives for retaining or “saving” customers who called to cancel. As a result, consumers reported that it was extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to cancel their service with Vonage.  The agreement puts strict limitations on this practice and requires recording and verification of these telephone calls.  North Carolina consumers who have unresolved complaints about unauthorized charges from Vonage should file a complaint with NC Attorney General Consumer Protection Division as soon as possible and no later than March 16th, 2010 to be eligible to receive a refund.  Complaint forms are available online at www.ncdoj.gov or by calling 877-5-NO-SCAM.

Jerry Wayne

September 30, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Jerry Wayne of Oldies 107.9 passed away this afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Up until recently, Jerry was also the announcer for the Center Street Jam and was always full of energy on stage. He will certainly be missed.

September 29, 2009 - RALEIGH - Earl Harvey Scott of Holly Springs claimed to hear a loud boom, and then his plasma television, blue-ray player, and other high-end electronics stopped working. But it all didn’t add up. Scott allegedly made up work orders for a repair company that does not exist and used his own post office box on the fraudulent documents. He is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of obtaining property by false pretense. He was processed at the Wake County Jail and held under a $20,000 secured bond. U.S. Postal Inspector’s office assisted the NC Department of Insurance in the investigation.

September 24, 2009 - RALEIGH - Operation Road Watch conducted in Johnston County over the last couple of days is now complete. Listed below are the results:

• 706 Vehicle Inspections
• 40 Drivers placed Out of Service
• 36 Vehicles place Out of Service
• 239 Driver Violations
• 398 Equipment Violations
• 159 Total Traffic Charges (Private and CMV)
• $6,810.00 Out of Service Fines Assessed
• 66 Vehicles Cited for an Overweight Violation
• 490,600 LBS Overweight Assessed
• $20,637.32 in Overweight Fines
• 168 Vehicles checked for Non Tax Paid Fuel
• 1 Stolen Vehicle Recovered Valued at $45,000.00
• 1 fugitive Arrested
• 64 Plants of Marijuana Discovered via aircraft, Value $96,000.00

Note: Out of service violations are serious and result in the driver or the vehicle being placed out of service.  The truck or driver will not be allowed to operate on the highway until all safety violations are corrected and fines paid.